It's all about telling the story

"Stepping Toward the Lion" documentary a journey of reflection

Updated 6:50 am, Tuesday, December 11, 2012

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Members and mentors of Children at the Well, back row left to right: Emily Hebert, Ben Russell, Marni Gillard, Mary Murphy, Paula Weiss and Ilyssa Simsek. Front row, left to right: Khalafalla Osman, Alaudeen Umar, John Lyden, Ritam Mehta and Toma Tadros. (Leo Wong) less

Members and mentors of Children at the Well, back row left to right: Emily Hebert, Ben Russell, Marni Gillard, Mary Murphy, Paula Weiss and Ilyssa Simsek. Front row, left to right: Khalafalla Osman, Alaudeen ... more

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Children at the Well storytellers, back row left to right: Emily Hebert, Ben Russell, Marni Gillard, Mary Murphy, Paula Weiss and Ilyssa Simsek. Front row, left to right: Khalafalla Osman, Alaudeen Umar, John Lyden, Ritam Mehta and Toma Tadros. (Leo Wong) less

Children at the Well storytellers, back row left to right: Emily Hebert, Ben Russell, Marni Gillard, Mary Murphy, Paula Weiss and Ilyssa Simsek. Front row, left to right: Khalafalla Osman, Alaudeen Umar, John ... more

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Members and mentors of Children at the Well, back row left to right: Emily Hebert, Ben Russell, Marni Gillard, Mary Murphy, Paula Weiss and Ilyssa Simsek. Front row, left to right: Khalafalla Osman, Alaudeen Umar, John Lyden, Ritam Mehta and Toma Tadros. (Leo Wong) less

Members and mentors of Children at the Well, back row left to right: Emily Hebert, Ben Russell, Marni Gillard, Mary Murphy, Paula Weiss and Ilyssa Simsek. Front row, left to right: Khalafalla Osman, Alaudeen ... more

Over the past four years, the 20-year-old College of Saint Rose junior has depleted his savings account, worked odd jobs and borrowed money from family to pay for his documentary. He also accepted donations from the nonprofit Interfaith Story Circle of the Tri-City Area for "Stepping Toward the Lion; Finding My Story," which focuses on Children at the Well, a local storytelling program for teens. But with final editing, sound and color correction, duplications, packaging and distribution left to complete, Lyden's story is far from finished.

"Being in Children at the Well was a really wonderful experience for me, and I developed some very deep friendships," said Lyden, of Rensselaer, who was a member of the interfaith storytelling program for four years. "Like so many others, I've experienced being on the outs and not fitting in, which is why I think this film can help a lot of people."

Lyden's film follows the journey of friend and fellow storyteller Alaudeen Umar, now 18, who dealt with years of prejudice and harassment after he graduated from AnNur Islamic School in Colonie and transferred to a charter school in Albany. The footage captures Umar's growth from being a target of prejudice to becoming a versatile storyteller.

Lyden and Umar became friends through Children at the Well, which began in 2006 after organizers received the Brimstone Award from the National Storytelling Network.

The group brings together teenagers from different religions and cultures and pairs them with professional storytellers, who help participants select or create stories based in their own traditions and learn how to tell those stories before an audience. Community performances throughout the year bring together families and friends to celebrate the teens, their stories and diversity in the community.

Staff members and interns from Children at the Well continue to help Lyden.

"John has been working tirelessly on this film to portray the community-building and healing force that is Children at the Well," said Paula Weiss, director of Children at the Well. "'Stepping Toward the Lion' could be of use to anyone interested in interfaith peacemaking work, and we hope it will also encourage growth of similar groups across the country."

The film focuses on the impact of Children at the Well on its members, specifically Umar, of Delmar, as he overcomes stage fright and finds his voice, ultimately getting up on stage on Sept. 11, 2011, speaking proudly about who his is and discussing his religion without inhibition.

Lyden and his supporters are writing a discussion guide for the film, which will be available along with the DVD, which they hope will be used by schools to take a deeper look at the issues it raises.

"I know how important it is for kids to express themselves freely and be accepted," Lyden said. "Stories have a healing nature and can make all the difference in our lives, and this is a story I feel needs to be told."